Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' (Black Dragon Coleus) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Part shade to dappled sun gives the richest near-black tones; harsh midday sun can scorch or fade the dark pigment, while deep shade thins the colour and stretches stems. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon': when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, often every 2-4 days in summer. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Coleus wilts dramatically when dry but recovers quickly; containers in heat may need daily watering. Avoid letting it sit in saucers of standing water.

Soil and pot

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' grows best in rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive loam or quality potting mix. Fertile, humus-rich soil with good drainage suits it best. In containers use a peat-free multipurpose compost; amend garden beds with organic matter to hold moisture without becoming soggy. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-29°C (65-85°F). Tolerates average outdoor and indoor humidity. Higher humidity keeps foliage lush; very dry air indoors can cause leaf-edge browning and invites spider mites. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' sparingly. Feed every 2-4 weeks through the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength; over-feeding with high nitrogen can dull the dark colour and force leggy growth. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Faded or washed-out colour — Too much harsh direct sun bleaches the near-black tone, while too little light pales it; aim for bright filtered light or part shade.
• Leggy, sparse growth — Skipping tip-pinching and letting flower spikes develop causes stretching; pinch regularly and remove blooms to keep the plant dense.
• Wilting and crisping — Coleus collapses quickly when the soil dries out and crisps in dry, hot air; keep soil evenly moist and shelter from drying wind.
• Spider mites and mealybugs — Dry indoor air encourages mites (stippling, fine webbing) and mealybugs; raise humidity, rinse foliage and treat with insecticidal soap.

Propagation

Very easy from stem cuttings: take 8-10 cm tips, strip lower leaves and root in water or moist compost within 1-2 weeks. Also grown from seed sown warm in spring at 18-21°C. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' is toxic to pets. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides, syn. Coleus blumei) is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats and dogs; the toxic principle is essential oils and diterpenes. Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, loss of appetite and, with skin contact, dermatitis. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' watering schedule
• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' light requirements
• Best soil mix for plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'
• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' fertilizing guide
• When to repot plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'
• How to propagate plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'
• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' growth rate & size
• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' cold hardiness
• Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' temperature & humidity
• Is plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' toxic to cats?
• Is plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' toxic to dogs?
• Getting plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best houseplants to propagate in water — Houseplants that root from a cutting in a glass of water — the easiest, cheapest way to turn one plant into many.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

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Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' is also commonly called Black Dragon Coleus or Dark Coleus.

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